Random? reflectin' thru lit. crit. lenses

Namaste Readers,

This approach to reflecting was inspired one day in Literature class.  My classmates were throwing around lit crit theories like beanies as we analyzed Fiction stories from Filipino-[American] writers.  Maybe I was too close to the subject matter and so I was too sensitive to my classmates' objectivity and seeming detachment ( I haven't divorce myself from the "work," lol ).  Then light bulb. Criticizing my summer experience ( as text ) using different lit crit lenses would be a fun personal joke, while the whole meta-thing could be mind-bending.  So here it goes in 3rd person for ease's sake!

Linguistic- focuses on Language: forming literary text using devices; questioning nuances of words; analyzing author's meaning; close reading; studying structure; understanding the exceptions; incorporating an ideal reader, etc.

-Formalist Criticism-
plot: protagonist (Michael), antagonist (Michael), conflict (money, Culture Clash, Roomie, etc.), beginning (leaves Philadelphia for internship), turning point (pick pocket episode, freelance tutoring, running, etc.), ending (a sort of acceptance, awareness, recognition, etc.)
story: Michael goes to the Philippines to complete an internship
voice: from Michael's perspective: Fil-Am, bilingual, college-educated with MAs degree

-New Criticism- Questioning:
authorial intent- internship and its concomitant experience
subjectivity- isn't it obvious?
beauty- it's in the eye of the beholder (subjectivity)
emotion- too much
close reading- refer to the many blog articles (from June-August 2011)

-Structuralism- Semiotics where meaning is not intrinsic but produced by structure
binary oppositions/spatial metaphors- Language- Globish and World English, use Tagalog or English. Periphery because of lack of "mastery" while in center for ability to use language in context.

Michael attended a lecture that was about language proficiency: defining proficiency not in using standard of a Native Speaker but rather Rhetorical principles in effective communication (ethos, pathos, logos).  It's controversial because it THREATENS Native Speaker's power.

As a bilingual, it's difficult for Michael to claim "mastery" of Tagalog or English ( in the traditional sense using the standards of a Native Speaker ).  His formal education in Tagalog stopped in 2nd grade.  His formal education in English began in 3rd grade (English grammar exceptions are still difficult to grasp, and some non-linguistic Native Speakers, who take the language for granted have difficulty explaining the exceptions).

Michael remembered the times when Rude Native Speakers doubted his ability to be an English teacher because of his background and accent.  Nonetheless, Michael realized that being aware was his advantage; he doesn't take language for granted (if only the hiring managers from abroad would realize this advantage: better to be able to use the language in context and to communicate RATHER than to fumble with grammar rules that constantly break itself).

He agrees with the revolutionary definition of language proficiency.  Because he practiced Tagalog at home, he can communicate with his pamily in the Philippines.  Some ideas in Filipino are not easily translatable in English.  He can move around the Philippines with ease, and he can relate with non-Native English speakers more easily because of his patience.  He acknowledges the global/international presence of English, while respecting and acknowledging the beauty of other languages.

-Post-Structuralism- criticizes "Structuralism" using "Deconstruction"
marginality- see above
desire- do close reading por favor
lack- refer to marginality above
while criticizing Structuralism using:
--Deconstruction-
displacements- as a result of Michael's migration
the gaps- maybe Michael's too close to recognize the gaps
indeterminancy/decentering- maybe because of Michael's liminal status?

-Reader-Response Criticism- You're the Reader, Reader! What's your experience so far? Why not make a comment[s], diba? If Michael were the reader (see above introduction), then this would be an attempt to articulate his experience.

Bridge
Lacanian Criticism is the bridge between Linguistic and Psychological because language comes first and "structures the unconscious."  Michael smiles because this criticism reminds him of Disney's Mulan's song "Reflection:"

...When will my reflection show/ Who I am inside?/ I am now/ In a world where I have to/ Hide my heart/ And what I believe in/ But somehow/ I will show the world/ What's inside my heart/ And be loved for who I am...

Keywords used: mirror (Reflection), signifier/ signified (Who), substitution (Hide heart/beliefs), desire (Show world heart/to be loved)

Psychological: Concerns with universals of human consciousness (a la Freud and Jung) factoring in:
personality- read blog articles, merci beaucoup
biography- do close reading por favor

Marxist: With emphasis in economic situation and Socialism and its keywords:
base/material economic reality/class-

The United States' economy is not doing so well.  During this hard time, hiring managers are extreme looking only for entry level OR supervisory position with at least 10 years of experience.  Being in the middle, Michael's 4 years of experience (with a MAs degree) is only good enough for part time jobs.  He doesn't have benefits et. al.  His debt resulting from Student Loans is not as horrible compared to others'.  Nonetheless he has debt.  He's grateful for the support he gets from his family, but he's annoyed with haters, who constantly point out his lack of financial independence.  Maybe it'll be a different story if Michael's a bum, who does nothing.  BUT he continually applies himself and never gives up.

Michael has to be more savvy with the income he earned through his part time jobs.  So in order to stretch his income he volunteered and completed a summer internship (experience as currency?).  He believed that he would spend more money trying to entertain himself in Philadelphia instead of being "productive" in the Philippines.  So he spent money to save money (and more).

His trip to the Philippines was mostly funded by his income.  He paid for his airfare, 3 months' rent, food, land transportation fare, and some souvenirs.  He also did Freelance Tutoring to help pay for his food.  When he was with his family, they'd dine out, and when he received his refund, he treated his family to some delicious pasalubong.

Michael used money from birthdays and Christmas presents to go shopping.  Clothes in the Philippines fit him better (with quality and in quantity).  He bought cds, books, baubles, and pasalubong.  Most of his money went to food.  He even borrowed money from his parents, and he'd pay them back using the first paycheck from his Fall part time job.

Obviously Michael is a mobile middle class person.  And his trip from the University to his cousin's house reminds him of the different classes.  He passes by poor people living in cardboard boxes, going through garbage for food and income, and diving in dumpsters (not the typical College Dumpster Dive).  He encounters beggars.

His family is a mobile middle class family.  Most of his cousins have college degrees (Nurse, Chemical Engineer, Teacher, Entrepreneur/Business person, Manager, Administrator's Assistant, etc.).  They can travel outside Luzon, outside the Philippines, around the World.  They have leisure time for the Arts; they have access to English.  PhD is an option.  Most of the students attending the University are from Elite families (both Old and New money) with connection to Government, Celebrity, Fame et. al.

Michael has been conscious about money at such a young age; his mother worked abroad before his entire immediate family migrated to the States.  Life in America has been work according to his parents, who financially supported his cousins, his brother, himself, etc. He received an allowance in high school.  He got a partial scholarship to attend college; he did work-study during college; he was business manager of a college club; he paid mostly for his graduate schooling through teaching and tutoring.  Ever since graduation, he's had 5 part time jobs and 2 unpaid internships.  Michael understands the role Money plays in "making [a capitalist] world go round," BUT he doesn't want that to be the sole meaning of his life (lives to work OR works to live?).
 
-New Historicism- specifics of culture matter profoundly:
language- see above
ideology- do close reading por favor (encoded ideology supporting the dominant class and also the struggling voice of the oppressed ideological subject)
--Feminist Criticism do close reading por favor
--Black Criticism do close reading por favor
--Post-Colonial Criticism do close reading por favor
---Identity Criticisms- Investigate definitions of self and constructions of self- see above, refer to blog articles, do close reading por favor

Obviously, one can only apply so much.  Some situations were not applicable (or difficult to include), but still fun, diba? OMG! this is so weird (^- ~)V